Hot-water bag.



Patented Nov. l9, l90l.

.r. E. CRAWFORD.

HOT WATER BAG. Application filed Nov. 15, 1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

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No. 687,004. Patented Nov. l9 l90|..

F. E. CRAWFORD.

HOT WATER BAG.

(Application filed N09. 15, 1900. (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FRANK E. CRAWFORD, OF LAKEMILLS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOWILLIAM A. ENGSBERG, OF LAKEMILLS, WISCONSIN.

HOT-WATER BAG.

$PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,004, dated November19, 1901.

Application filed November 15, 1900. Serial No. 36,570. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK E. CRAWFORD, of Lakemills, in the county ofJeiferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Hot-Water Bags, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part ofthis specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in hot-water bags.

The form of hot-water bag now in common use consists merely of a rubbercasing in bag form adapted to be filled with hot water. The objection tothis is that the bag after a time loses its heat and is then required tobe emptied of its contents and refilled with hot water.

It is the object of my invention to provide a novel form of water-bagand in connection therewith means providing for a positive circulationof hot water therethrough whereby the necessity for refilling the bag isentirely avoided and convenience and other desirable ends therebypromoted.

\Vith the above primary object in view the invention consists of thedevices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the completeinvention, certain parts being in section and certain parts broken away.Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevationofa modified form of bag. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a sectional/view of a modified form of water-reservoir. T

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hot-water bagis made up of a rubber tubing coiled around in close coils, as indicatedby the numeral 7. While I have shown these coils in the accompanyingdrawings as close enough together to touch each other, yet this is notabsolutely necessary, as the coils might be arranged a little distanceapart, if preferred.- In fact this latter arrangement maybe found moredesirable, as where the coils are arranged close together, as shown, insome instances the bag will become unduly heated. The coils arepreferably arranged in a casing 8, consisting of two side piecescomposed of rubber sheets and secured together at adjacent edges, and inorder to hold the coils together it is advisable to embed in one of theside pieces of the casing a small flat spring 9, extending around saidside piece near the outer edge thereof. Instead of providing a casingconsisting of two side pieces united together, as shown, the coils maybe merely placed upon and secured to a single sheet of rubber---that isto say, one of the side pieces of Fig. 1or Fig. 2 could be entirelyomitted, or, again, both side pieces could be entirely dispensed withand some simple means employed for holding the coils together.

The numeral 10 indicates a water reservoir or chamber of any desirableconstruction; but the form shown in the accompanying drawings has beenfound by practice to'possess merit and to answer the purposes of myinvention to advantage. This reservoir consists of a casing, preferablyof cylindrical form and having a removable top or cover 11 and a conicalbottom 12. The apex of the conical bottom is open and from the openingextends upwardly a short tube 13. The casing is provided therearoundwith a series of openings 14 for the escape of steam and the heat fromthe heating device hereinafter referred to. The ends of the rubbertubing composing the water-bag are extended outwardly from the casing,and one length (indieated by the numeral 15) extends to and communicateswith the interior of the waterreservoir at the lower portion thereof,and the other length 16 extends to and communicates with a pressure-bulb17. From the opposite end of the pressure-bulb extends another length ofrubber tubing 18, and this tubing communicates with the interior of thereservoir at the lower portion thereof, but opposite the point where thetube 15 com municates. The nipples of the tubing 17 and 18, whichconnect with the pressure-bulb, are provided with interiorvalve-chambers 19 19', said chambers provided with valve-openings 2O 20,which are controlled by means of valves 21 21. As a convenient means forholding the water-reservoir at an elevated position I provide the samewith an arm 22, said arm having at its outer end a semicircular enlargement 23, adapted to fit around a bed-post 24 and to be clampedadjustably thereto by means of a set-screw 25, whereby the height of thereservoir may be conveniently regulated.

In order to heat the water in the reservoir, any suitable form ofheating device may be placed below the conical bottom of said reservoir.In the accompanying drawings I show an ordinary lamp 26. The heat fromthis lamp strikes the bottom of the reservoir and by reason of theconical shape thereof is diitused thereover and then converges to thetube 1 3, ascending upwardly through said tube and into the casing andfinally out lhroughthe perforations 14:.

In the use and application of my invention the height of thewater-reservoir is first regu lated in the manner hereinoefore fullypointed out, so as to bring the water-bag at the proper distance to beconveniently laid upon the patient lying on a bed. The lamp is thenplaced below the water-reservoir, as shown in Fig. 1, and the heat fromthis lamp soon heats the water contained in the reservoir. It will beseen that the valves 21 and 21 are normally open, so that the heatedwater is free to flow through the tube 18, thence through thepressure-bulb, thence through the length of tubing 16, thence around thecoils of the bag 7, and finally back to the water-reservoir by way ofthe tube 15, the flow of the water being positively regulated merely bypressing upon the pressure-bulb 17 and subsequently relaxing pressurethereon.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 3 and at of thedrawings instead of making the bag of a series of coils, as in Figs. 1and 2, said bag is composed of side pieces 27 27, which are transverselyconnected bya series of tubes 28, extending across the main chamber 29of the bag, whereby air is free to pass transversely through the tubesfrom one side of the bag to the other. To opposite ends of the bag areconnected rubber tubings 30 and 81, respectively, which tubings lead tothe water-reservoir and one of said tubes provided in its length with apressurebulb similar to 17. In this form of construction it will be seenthat the water flowing from the water-reservoir will pass through one ofthe rubber tubes and into the chamber 29 and circulate around the tubes28 and finally out of the other tube and back to the reservoir. The air,which is free to pass through the tubes 28, is of course heated by thewater flowing through the chamber, and the heat of the bag is thus tothis extent augmented.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings Ishow a modified form of water-reservoir,which not only acts to contain the water to be heated, but, furthermore,as a chimney for the lamp or heating device. It consists of acylindrical outer portion 40 and an inner conical portion 41, the spacebetween the outer cylinder and the inner cone forming a water-chamber42. The lower end of this device is fitted over the lamp or heatingdevice, so that the flow of heat therefrom will be within the cone L1.The water will thereby be quickly heated and will be free to flowthrough rubber tubings similar to the tubings hereinbefore described,said tubings being connected to the nipples 43 and 44. It will be seenthat the general characteristics of this Fig. 5 form of reservoir aresimilar to the reservoir shown in Fig. 1. The conical portion 41 of Fig.5 corresponds to the conical bottom of the Fig. 1 form, excepting thatit is more tapering and is continued upwardly a greater distance toanswer the pur pose of the tube 13.

It will be understood that one of the most important features of myinvention is its capability of having the hot water forced through thebag. For this purpose I have shown the pressure-bulb 17.

hat I claim as my invention is- The combination of a water-bag, lengthsof tubing extending from the bag, the ends thereof connecting with asource of hot-water supply, and a valve-controlled pressure-bulb in oneof the lengths of tubing, said bulb when operated regulating the flowfrom the reservoir and through the bag.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. CRAWFORD.

IVitnesses:

A. L. MORSELL, ANNA V. FAUST.

